Mari's Pages

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

There is one big difference between being in Melbourne for work and for visiting family. Other than the obvious one that work is not leisure.

Being in town for work means that I have my hotel where to stay, and I am on my own. ON. MY. OWN. I could build a personal, more intimate relationship with this city, because it is just us, me and the streets, me and the river, me and the park, me and the cafes. Something that is not always possible as guests.

The city wakes up very early on weekdays, people rushing to get that coffee on the go and start another working day. Trams cut through, loading and unloading commuters, freshly shaven men, red-lipped women, business travelers.

Being this my fifth time (five times!!) down under, I more or less know how to get around. First things first, after I am done with the conference stuff, I re-familiarized with the CBD (did you know that the streets in the CBD have an order? King, William, Queen, Elizabeth, and so on….easy to remember), I arranged to meet friends, and I was free to walk as much as I wanted, stay as late as I wanted, no curfew, no depending on others. I checked the best coffee place in town, a few of the too many nice pubs, I did even get a tram card!! Being again in Melbourne felt so so good. Especially when I meet locals asking ME directions...

There is also something about the Yarra river I can't quite explain. No matter how many times I walk along its banks, no matter how many pictures I take from every possible angle of every possible view at any possible time of the day, I still have to go there, take more pictures and walk around restless. Must be the hydrogen bonds… (get it? get it?)

But, being with family means that I can hop in a car and forget about the rest, as others will take care of all the details. The advantage of visiting relatives lays in pampering, spoiling, caring. No need to say, every day of my stay was planned ahead (especially regarding the feeding schedule), and weather allowing, we could largely stick to the plan. In a way, thinking of it now, being with my folks felt like coming back home after a short vacation.

On my first weekend "home" we all went to a park for a picnic, I played soccer with the kids, and loved soaking in the spring sun. The day after I had a girls only date with my cousins and we all spent a lovely day at a boathouse by the river.

Visiting the countryside is also part of the routine when I am in Melbourne, and for the first time I could see green all around, as I usually visit during the summer months when everything is dry and rough. There is also something magic about being on the road on a rainy day, watching the fog enveloping all trees and hills in the distance.

I can't not check out the seaside, and this time Altona beach is our pick: a long, wide and shallow stretch of sand and rocks that despite the beautiful summery day was rather empty. Football grand final on that day may explain why…

Even the most famous most Italian bar on the most Italian street Brunetti on Lygon is barely filled. By the way, I was told that all the waiters working there make sure to stress their Italian (fake or not) accent. I know where to look for my next job, then...

As quick as it started, my short stay in Melbourne is already at its last day, the only few things left to do being make sure that my cousins have kisses and hugs enough to last to the next return.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

First of all I am glad that I am not a selected speaker at this conference as my boss wished...there is a high level of presentation skills and also a confidence I don't have. Yet.

Second, not being a native English speaker can be a problem in some cases...think of the Chinese presenters. Some of them are perfectly understandable, but others, like the guy whose talk I attended...it is impossible to pick up any words. At all. Maybe native speakers can sort of grasp what he's trying to say, but I can't. Yadda yadda to me.

So, I am twice as glad that I am not one of the speakers. I think my eloquence would be shadowed by my bad pronunciation. Standing by my poster is just about enough. And prone to less anxiety.
Going back a little to give some context, here I am by the beautiful south Yarra riverside in beautiful Melbourne where the Exhibition Centre is located.

This part of town is a great place to be now, day and night: restaurants and bars with live music along the south warf promenade, outlet mall, the nearby casino, the view of the tall city buildings, lots of grass and seats so that one can bask in the sun (like what i did on Sunday, when the weather just gifted the city with a perfect spring day)...

Attendance for the systems biology conference is quite low...I mean I am surprised by the small scale of the event, especially if compared to the Japanese Molecular Biology conference that's thousands of people. And is a domestic conference....
But, no need to say, the quality of the conference here is really high.

Everything is organized in such a way that we get more science than we can actually hope for and more food than what we can eat...lunch boxes with even a muffin! And a fruit! Gasp! There are cookies, pastries, and mini muffins served during tea breaks (yeah, we are in a British colony, remember), we also had a great selection of sandwiches, and they do take extra care about all food restrictions people might have....I want the same catering company for our events! The bonus on this was that we didn't have to pay a dime at all, as all refreshments were free. Hm, generous sponsors? It looks like the case.
Conferences are great for networking. People meet, talk, first about their respective jobs, but then also about their own countries, life, likes and so on.

Attendees, or delegates as we are referred to, cover a wide range of characters: your dolled up, pin up girls from the eastern European countries (Poland) walking in their 4 inches heel pumps (who said science isn't sexy? BTW, the day after they showed up in sneakers and hoodies haha), your nice looking researchers, your good mix of young and less young, of students and professors, your big tall super friendly Dutch woman, your long haired, tired looking Frenchman, your confused Japanese guy, and well, yes, also your old professor. The real geek type, you know, those with thick glasses, long hair and beards who don't care about looks and have their presentation slides filled with formulas and numbers? Not here. FYI, scientists now are well groomed, take care of their bodies, are sociable and fun. Lots of blue eyes around and blonde hair. And beards. Hipster is the new science!

BTW, what's with the over-representation of the bearded human? It is SO evident outside of Japan. Perhaps I have lived in Japan for too long. Ohdammit, I do love Melbourne.

Friday, September 12, 2014

I didn't bother to charge my laptop battery before departure, as I thought that I wouldn't need to use the computer during the short flight to Hong Kong and that I could have done so during the long-ish wait at the terminal....yeah, if I had remembered to bring the plug adaptor.
So now with the little juice left I try to let time pass.

Anyway, people do need to seriously learn to travel...

Chinese woman sitting next to me, I guess that Kevin could have lived as happily as before even if you didn't call him 7 (Seven, I counted) times from the moment the wheels touched the ground to the moment the plane stopped. I mean, that's, like, 4 minutes in total. People know you are traveling, they can wait.

And, Chinese woman next to me again, why on earth do you have to walk over me - I have a aisle seat - and rush to get your bags while the aisle is completely packed by people who thought doing the same? I mean, if the door's not open, guess what, you can't leave the plane even if you make it to front line.

And what is this need to stand up as soon as the plane comes to a halt....it's not that, you know, if you miss this stop the conductor will deliver you to, say, Katmandu. There is only one stop, and it is final. They'll wait for you to disembark before calling it a day. No need to be in a hurry.

I feel more claustrophobic in those 5 minutes while everyone stood than in a Tokyo subway train...but that's another story.

I hate landings. They are stressful. MAN.

So, where am I traveling to? There is a systems biology conference in Melbourne and I am attending it. To be honest, I DREAD flying long distances, especially given that I can't sleep.

During the past two weeks my insomnia worsened, I wonder whether the wineries in Victoria state ("the place to be" according to car plates) will be of any help for this.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Sunday. The smell of 5-grains cake baked the night before still lingers in the living room.

AM 7:00. It's a sunny morning outside, ideal for a bicycle ride.

AM 7:10. Nope, it's not a sunny morning anymore. Plan change, I am not riding in the rain.

PM 1:00. Against all odds the sky opens up again, so without hesitation I am off to what will be a very 32 KM entertaining bicycle ride across Tokyo.

Some technical information about the whole adventure: I rode a bike from my workplace in Tsurumi to Asakusabashi, where my friend and owner of the bike I want to ride is, all the way along route 15 but the last few kilometers, when I took route 6. Easier route, and one I know quite well, so that I don't need to check the map while riding. See? Very responsible of me. Now, not having a proper bike, nor proper experience in dealing with car drivers in the city, I kept a low profile and rode along the walkways. Note to experienced cyclists: Tokyo metropolis doesn't always have bike lanes (maybe only 25% of the roads have). Also people here have really no common sense in riding a bike. And engineers have no common sense in urban planning. For these reasons, using the pedestrians sideways is pretty normal and widely practiced, although not pretty safe all the time...

PM 2:00. I fetch the bike at RIKEN and I start my ride while the day turned sunny and hot. I take it as a good sign of a mission that's going to end well. I make a brief stop at a bike shop to get the tyre pumped, then I am off, destination Tokyo Sky Tree and vicinity.

PM 2:30. I am already in Kawasaki, crossing the prefectural border between Kanagawa and Tokyo prefectures that's physically and conveniently shared with the Tama river. Nice view on that day over the river banks!

PM 3:45. South Shinagawa!!! I made it fast, despite all the architectural barriers that slowed down my ride and annoyed me this much…Expectedly, in a heavily urbanized centre like Tokyo metropolitan area, it is not unusual to find constructions that either make pedestrians and cyclists lives a hassle or make the city look ugly (see later when I get to Nihombashi), and I indeed had to make detours here and there, leaving the main road to get back in it a few blocks further, simply because I was on the wrong side of the road and I couldn't continue because there were no lines at the crossing I was meant to pass (or no traffic lights, or there was a bridge for pedestrian that had no lane for bikes, meh). But that meant more adventures, as I discovered things along the way…getting lost was impossible, given that the road signs with directions are super clear and easy to read. But spotting temples (like the pretty one in South Shinagawa), canals, cute little houses, a nice view was instead always a bonus.

PM 4:10. I leave the temple where I stopped for 30 minutes and keep on going….I am reaching the core of the city, the are that sits within the circle of Yamanote train line that roughly marks the center boundaries….And the weather still looks good. Chance of rain has dropped to zero. It can't be better.

PM 4:40. I am in the embassies area, near Tokyo Tower, and I can't not take a detour just to get a bit closer. But not too close, as I want to make it to my final destination before dark….this time of the year night comes around 6:30pm.

PM 5:00. Ginza!!! I am here, cycling along the most expensive stretch of route 15 while it is closed to the traffic. I have the best fun here, where I took millions of photos of people strolling and sitting and window-shopping, while cycling. And, I also met a couple of friends by chance! Besides, I am getting real close now to Asakusabashi.

PM 5:20. Nihombashi. This district is really famous because it maintains an old splendor, where one can see buildings that look full of history, and perhaps the most beautiful bridge in whole Tokyo (where the district takes its name from). This bridge and the whole neighborhood is totally spoiled by the highway tracks that run just above the bridge and follow the canal for a good portion of its course, hiding everything else to the view. Shame shame shame.

PM 5:40. I finally see the Tokyo Sky Tree, standing tall and shining. Just few minutes later I am stopping by the bridge in Asakusabashi to take photos of the lively sides of the canal that recalls ancient times. It reminds me a little bit of Kyoto, with all the boat houses directly facing the water and a little bit of Fukuoka with all the small restaurants lined up along the canal. Just. Beautiful.

And here my ride is over. It was a great afternoon, made greater by one detail: I did not encounter one single red light all along the route! Not one single time! My riding pace went like in a fluid motion, slowed down only occasionally by spacial-unaware pedestrians or by lack of room on the side walks. In the end I made it within 4 hours, which was much faster than my expectations given all the detours.

Even on my way back home (by train) I had a smooth ride: I had the train just waiting for me when I departed and also when I transferred. It must have been my lucky day.